~terry
Wed, Jul 24, 1996 (11:16)
seed
RAS+ 95 -- RAS+ 95 takes the Windows 95 built-in dial-up
networking client to
New levels by adding additional power and functionality. RAS
(Remote Access Services) is Microsoft's acronym for the interface
and toolset designed to make communication between client and
servers (supposedly) simple. RAS+ both complements and
supersedes the Windows 95 built-in Remote Access Services by
combining the best features of clients like Trumpet (Internet dial-in
utility), NetDial and Connect Time Monitor (time monitoring
clients), and WSTBar (Internet toolbar app). RAS+ allows you to
dial in to your Internet provider (or providers), run a connection
script if necessary, track your online time and expenses, chat with
other users, and launch your favorite Internet applications all from
within one interface. RAS+ even works with MS Scheduler for
automatically running RAS+ at specific times and with RoboDUN
for automatically connecting to the 'net. In addition, no exporting
or importing is necessary -- RAS+ takes all the information from
the Windows 95 dial-up networking client and stores it for your
own use.
Additional features include Auto Dialing, number cycling and
automatic redialing, direct Internet chatting, call stats and billing
information, online help support system, customizable WAV files to
alert you when connected or disconnected, and automatic
reconnection (for logging back on after being unceremoniously
dropped from your provider). Many RAS+ devotees will use and
love the client for its time and cost monitoring capabilities alone,
but in reality, RAS+ is much more than just another time or cost
monitor for the Internet. No other client makes the process of
getting on (and off) the 'net for Windows 95 users easier, and no
other dial-up networking client offers the multitude of services that
RAS+ does. For this reason, RAS+ will be a must-have client for
most all Windows 95 users. Still, at just under $30, some users will
likely be inclined to stick with the free dial-up client in Windows
95, even at the expense of the sheer abundance of features offered
by RAS+.
Pros: Handles every aspect of getting on and off the Internet,
feature-replete and easy to use
Cons: Some users will prefer the free dial-up client in Windows 95
or will not need RAS+'s features
New: Revised interface, launch groups and launchpad (toolbar),
traybar functionality, more
Version Reviewed: Beta 4 Build 123
Date of Review: 6/23/96 Reviewer: Forrest Stroud
~terry
Mon, Jul 29, 1996 (12:18)
#1
The problem with the native Windows 95 interface is that there is no easy
way to automate logons except for the obscure scripting facility that
Microsoft provides with the Windows 95 Plus package. With all of
Microsoft's 1,600 person Internet assault force, you'd think they could
automate folks logons. Clearly Microsoft didn't pay much attention to
the Internet when they designed Windows 95. I expect this change in
Microsoft's anticipated upgrade of Windows 95 to make Internet
connectivity an integrated part of their operating system. So, for now,
RAS may be the way to fly.
~pthompso
Tue, Sep 24, 1996 (14:39)
#2
While RAS+ appears to be well-rounded, it doesn't appear to offer that much more than the Dail-Up Networking (DUN) application called Dial-Up Networking Connection Enhancement (DUNCH) from Vector @ http://www.vecdev.com/ for free?As such, the $30 price tag seems to be an overkill for this small added functionality. They should lower their price to, say, $10, and they would be much more successful, IMHO.
~danmeek
Fri, Nov 8, 1996 (21:01)
#3
I have found the release verion of RAS+95 to have strange and crippling bugs. For example, one day I suddenly found all of my passwords to have disappeared, and RAS+ declared that all passwords were "disabled," so I could not even re-enter them. I sent email to Lamb Software about this, and other problems, and (now a week later) have not heard back.
~terry
Sat, Nov 9, 1996 (15:02)
#4
What email did you use?
~terry
Sat, Apr 26, 1997 (01:44)
#5
I have a killer feature for RAS+95 if it doesn't already have it,
the new 56k modems seem to connect at a wide variety of baud rates.
How about getting RAS+95 to keep retrying until a specified baud
rate is reached?
~sprin5
Thu, May 18, 2000 (14:59)
#6
I wonder if there's a RAS 98?
~MarciaH
Thu, May 18, 2000 (15:49)
#7
My MS dialup insists I close and disable all rundll and rundll32's before it will not shut down my computer. Very strange. It works fine and acts as a deterrent to lurkers in house who might wish to hack into my personal stuff. Oddly ( or not, perhaps!) AOL can blast through all of that nonsense and connect in a split second. It is so irritating since I hate AOL and would rather go back to trumpet and winsock and all that on W 3.1 before I'd resort of AOL full time!